The major purpose of this study was to assist the data collection firm which the American Library Association had hired to do the actual data collecting for its study of decision-making in the selection of science books for academic libraries. Part of the study was devoted to a literature search on the subject of book selection for academic libraries. Two main trends represented in the literature were: (1) It is the duty of the teaching faculty to do the book selection for academic libraries; and (2) Collection development is one of the prime responsibilities of academic librarians. The majority of the librarians and administrators questioned during this study felt that book selection should be a joint responsibility of faculty and librarians. The majority of the faculty felt it should be their own right and responsibility. The large extent to which libraries use "blanket order" (an agreement between a library and an agent or publisher to purchase all of a certain set of publications) and "approval order" (volumes sent a library are "on approval" and any not wanted may be returned) plans was the nearest thing to a fresh insight received from the data. The blanket and approval orders are shown to be important in the acquisitions of even moderate sized academic libraries. Most librarians and faculty are favorably impressed. (NH)